Hofstraat 14, Aalten

Overview

Herman Driessen & Son Steam Weaving Mill was a textile factory on Hofstraat in Aalten. The family business operated from 1893 until 1969. After closure, the site was later redeveloped as offices, a health centre and apartments.

In 1893, Herman Driessen, after leaving the family firm Gebr. Driessen, founded his own steam-powered weaving mill with his son Joseph. The new company, N.V. Stoomweverij Herman Driessen & Zoon, usually abbreviated to HDZ, began with 34 looms on Hofstraat, on land known as ‘het Blik’. Herman also had his new home built beside the factory, the villa Beukenhof.

After Herman’s death, the business passed to his son Joseph Driessen (1870–1938), and then to Joseph’s son Clemens Driessen (1900–1964).

During the Second World War, Clemens managed the company and also took part in illegal resistance activities. Among other things, he made blue twill fabric from the factory available so that underground resistance groups could wear uniforms when liberation came.

After Clemens died in 1964, his brother Herman took over management, assisted by Clemens’s two sons, Joop and Clemens Driessen.

Products

HDZ produced knitted goods such as underwear, gymnastics clothing and sweaters, as well as household textiles including tablecloths, napkins, hand towels, bath towels, glass cloths, tea towels, sheets and pillowcases. Many products had decorative borders or woven-in company names, including those of the Holland-America Line and Nedlloyd.

After 1945, production shifted towards hotel linen, sports and gymnastics clothing, and knitted and woven babywear. The great plume of smoke from the factory chimney and the sound of the steam whistle became familiar parts of everyday life in Aalten.

Closure and redevelopment

After the Second World War, the textile industry, which had long played a major role in the economy of the eastern Achterhoek, declined sharply because of growing foreign competition and the rise of mass production.

In December 1969, director Joop Driessen decided to place the company into voluntary liquidation. Around 180 people were still employed there at the time.

From 1970 until 1980, Staalkat, a manufacturer of egg-grading machines, occupied the vacant factory. It was later used as a multi-tenant business centre. By 1996, the building had become empty again. Years of vacancy led to decay, and in 2002 much of the complex was destroyed by arson.

Despite the extensive damage, enough survived for restoration. On 16 December 2009, alderman Wim ten Voorde, together with Joop Driessen and Egbert Rots of Rots Bouw, unveiled the sign for the Hofstraat redevelopment project. The former textile factory was restored and converted into offices and a health centre, with apartments also built on the site.

Owners

This overview is not complete.